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Cruise Ship Inspection Scores & Information

VSP Outbreak Investigations

Learn what we do during investigations of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships.

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) monitors our surveillance system to observe illness patterns for gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships.

VSP conducts outbreak investigations when 3% or more of the ship’s passengers or crew members report they are sick with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. We may also conduct an outbreak investigation if an unusual gastrointestinal illness pattern or characteristic is found (even if the illness rate is less than 3%).

We conduct outbreak investigations on ships sailing in the United States or within 15 days of arriving at a U.S. port.

What does VSP do in an outbreak investigation?

During an outbreak investigation, VSP works with cruise ship staff and the cruise line to determine the cause of illness.

When an outbreak occurs, we ask for logs and records, including gastrointestinal illness surveillance logs, so we can closely examine the reported cases. The surveillance logs include information such as specific symptoms and the date and time the illness occurred. By reviewing the logs, we are able to determine the following:

Amount of illness throughout the ship.

Distribution of illness among the passengers and crew.

Start of illness.

Distribution of illness during each day of the voyage.

Profiles of symptoms for those who are ill.

The objectives of an investigation are to

Determine the magnitude of illness aboard the ship.

Identify the pathogen causing the illness.

Identify risk factors associated with the illness.

Formulate control measures to prevent or stop the spread of illness.

By determining the cause of an outbreak, VSP can help the cruise line develop effective intervention strategies to prevent a recurrence of the outbreak.

During an outbreak, VSP staff may board a cruise ship to do one or more of the following:

Epidemiological assessment to examine the distribution of gastrointestinal illnesses, interview passengers and crew members, and distribute and analyze questionnaires.

Targeted environmental health assessment to investigate specific areas on the vessel to check for exposure and routes of transmission of the illness and to monitor the ship’s Outbreak Prevention and Response Plan procedures. This assessment is based on preliminary findings from the epidemiological review. For example, if water is suspected as the source of illness, VSP gives more attention to reviewing the water source.

Laboratory investigation to confirm the cause of illness. Medical staff may collect stool, vomit, or blood specimens to send to a land-based lab.